Viral Gastroeneteritis

shopaholic2

Hi all, firstly i want to point out that i am not seeking medical advice as such, just general advice from anyone who's had this....

My mum, who is 76, started with vomiting and diarrhoe on 11th July, last saturday,16th, she was rushed into hospital after collapsing at home, and eventually, after sstool samples, blood tests and an x ray, diagnosed with Viral Gastroenteritis. After 3 nights she was sent home, to be looked after by my elderly and not so well dad.
She is still very pooorly, and we are now into the 12th day, just wondered if anyone could shed some positive light on when she might start to improve???

My dad had only just come out of hospital after having his gall bladder removed, he is 78, and frail, and is having to look after her! He's still got his bloody stitches in!!
Im doing what i can, feeding him. when his stubborn side will allow him to come for tea

Has anyone ever had this? Any idea of how long it can last??

Many thanks

melancholly

to be honest, i've only known people have it in their 20s and 30s..... i think how long the recovery will take will be determined by your mum's age. it'll hit her harder and she'll take longer to get back to normal.

must be very stressful for you. hopefully your dad will allow you to help (i thought after gall bladder surgery you really did need to rest?!). maybe you could offer to help with transport to any doctors' appointments and sit in to hear what's actually said?! if it's still bad after the weekend, maybe your mum should at least ring the GP for advice?

shopaholic2

Well Dads just rung and she's collapsed again at home....very worrying. He's rung NHS direct and they're sending a dr out, although Lord knows when he/she will tuen up

I'm very worried.

mum2one

if it has been this long then maybe your mum will need extra fluid, they may suggest an IV drip, if she has collaspped then I would consider calling an ambulance,

Its not advice, but just my thoughts, really hope she goes on ok x

melancholly

so sorry to hear that. hope by now someone is there - if not, and she's struggling, maybe an ambulance would be worth it?

are you close enough to visit them to put your mind at rest/help your dad?

shopaholic2

The Dr from NHS direct came last night and gave her a prescription for sme anti sickness tablets,something to help stop the diarrhoea and also something to drink to help build up her energy.
He was far from impressed with the hospital for sending her home, and for not supplying any of these things...
Anyway, fingers crossed she will start to improve now, but I'm thinkin the hospital have been quite negligent tbh (not looking for compensation, just thinking out loud really.)

Thanks for all your helpful comments and advice.

plainsie

shopaholic2 wrote: »

The Dr from NHS direct came last night and gave her a prescription for sme anti sickness tablets,something to help stop the diarrhoea and also something to drink to help build up her energy.
He was far from impressed with the hospital for sending her home, and for not supplying any of these things...
Anyway, fingers crossed she will start to improve now, but I'm thinkin the hospital have been quite negligent tbh (not looking for compensation, just thinking out loud really.)

Thanks for all your helpful comments and advice.

Hope she begins to feel better soon x

mary-op

I'd be inclined to phone ambulance if she doesn't improve fairly quickly -sounds like she was send home too soon in the first place (just my opinion) and if you feel someone has been negligent.......complain if only so it doesn't happen again to someone else but make sure you get ICAS to support you with it.............I've made one complaint this year to our hospital and the reply I got was not satisfactory to me but they've 'closed the file' they say.
Hope your Mum improves soon and all this isn't needed.:)

mizzbiz

I had this some years back and it knocked me for six - I was 25! I canm't imagine how your poor mum is coping. I basically had to sip water for a week, nothing else would stay down. I managed a cappucino after five days and a peice of cake after seven days.

To eat completely properly again it was about two weeks. Horrible illness.

It's going to be longer than that for your mum - just make sure she sips water constantly. never too much or it will come back up.

Hope she's better soon.